St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin says that midfielder Jamie McGrath won’t be going anywhere unless a bidder comes up with an offer that matches their high valuation.
St Mirren eased to a 1-0 Premier Sports Cup win last night, with debutant Curtis Main’s header sealing a win that should have had a more comfortable score line for the Saints.
After the match Goodwin confirmed reports that the club have knocked back several offers for their former Lilywhites winger McGrath and insists he won’t leave Paisley unless the Buddies’ deem the offer fit for the quality of their prize asset.
Goodwin told Express Sport: “We had a bid a couple of weeks ago and we’re very transparent with Jamie and his representatives.
“We want to hold on to him, as you can see by the fact he was in our starting XI against Dunfermline.
“We don’t need to sell anyone either, but we’re always fair to players that come here or that come through the academy.
“If a bid meets our valuation and it’s a club that Jamie quite likes the idea of then we’re not going to stand in anyone’s way to earning some big money at a potentially bigger club.
“We have to be realistic about the situation. Jamie’s done great for us last season, he’s a senior international and that’s how I sell this place to young players I bring here.
“We ask them to come here and do the business for us for a year or two and, if they do that, we won’t stand in their way.
“That’s my mantra and that’s always going to be that way.”
While Goodwin admits there are some serious clubs in for the recently turned Ireland international, the Saints gaffer insists McGrath hasn’t been asking for a move away from the SMiSA Stadium.
He also backed the club’s stance that the 24-year-old won’t be moving on the cheap.
He said: “Jamie’s a really good character, he’s not kicking down my door demanding we accept bids.
“There are some serious clubs interested.
“We’ve only had two or three concrete bids on the table but at the same time the club have been brave and thrown those out. They don’t meet our valuation.
“For us to replace a 17-goal midfielder is going to be very difficult, a couple hundred grand here and there isn’t going to cut it.”
